Theft alarm for automobiles



Feb. 9, 1932. R. RUPERT 1,844,338

THEFT ALARM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed May 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z a? a;4 46 snow/14 601;

Feb. 9, 1932. R. RUPERT 1,844,338

THEFT ALARM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed May 2:5, 1929 3 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7%] Ifiicfiaw/ 31 67 Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITE RICHARD RUPERT, OF KANSASCITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC ALARM GO. INQ, OF DENVER,COLORADO, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO THEFT ALARM FOR AUTOMOBILESApplication filed May 23, 1929.

This invention relates to improvements in theft protective devices andhas reference more particularly to a device that can be applied to anautomobile or to a building or to any other article and which will causea signal to be sounded when the automobile or the building is disturbed.

The theft of automobiles is getting to be a matter of common occurrenceand it is therefore highly desirable to equip automobiles with a devicethat will sound an alarm if the automobile disturbed by an unauthorizedperson, but which can be rendered inoperative by the owner by the simplemeans of opening a hidden switch.

This invention, briefly described, consists of a casing in which islocated an electromagnet having a movable armature. The mov able end ofthe armature is connected with one part of a dashpot which is soarranged that the armature can move quickly in response to the magneticattraction when the magnet is energized, but which will return slowly toits normal or inoperative position. A signal control switch isassociated with the armature in such a manner that it will be closed assoon as the armature starts moving in response to the euergization ofthe magnet and which will remain closed until the armature has almostreached 1' a normal position. Connected in series with the electromagnetis a theft protective switch, comprising an arm pivoted at one end andhaving the other end provided with a weight which has con siderableinertia. This arm carries a contact which adapted to move intoengagement with another contact for the purpose of clos-- ing anelectric circuit through the electromagnet. This aim is normally held ininoperative position by means of springs and will return to inoperativeor open switch position of its own accord. Means provided for adjustingthe sensitiveness of the theft protective switch.

Having thus briefly described the invcntion. the same will now bedescribed in detail and for this purpose reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of theinvention has been illustrated, and in which:

Serial No; 365,266.

Fig. 1 is a plan View looking into the cacing and showing the parts innormal or in operative position, portions being broken away to betterdisclose the construction; 4

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22, Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken on line 3--3, Fig. 1; f

Fig. 1- is a section taken on line 4%, Fig. 1

Fig. 5 is a section through the dashpot, taken on line 55, Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6, Fig. 1, and i Fig. 7 is adiagrammatic representation showing the different elements of the upparatus and the electrical connections to the different parts.

In the drawings reference numeral 1 represents the bottom of the casingwithin which the apparatus is located. This casing has end members 2 and3 and sides 1. The two sides extend down below the end member 2 andterminate in outwardly extending portions 5, which are perforated andwhich serve as means for attaching the casing to a support. The casingis provided with a cover 6 which can be removed when access is desiredto the interior of the casing. Located within the casing is anelectromagnet having a coil 7 and a pole 8. This magnet is preferablysecured to the end 3 of the casing which, therefore forms part of themagnetic circuit. Secured to the inside of end 3 is a U-shaped bracket 9whose parallel sides are perforated for the reception of a pintle 10which in this case is formed from an ordinary cotter pin. The armature11 has one end provided with parallel lugs or ears 12 which areperforated for the reception of the pintle and which is secured to thebracket 9 in the manner shown in Fig. 6. The armature has a pole piece18 secured to its upper side as shown in Fig. 1 and extends beyond thepole piece and terminates in a notched end portion 14. Secured to thelower side of the armature 11 is an arm or bracket 15 whose lower endterminates in a laterally extending projection having a. roller 16attached thereto. A signal control switch comprising a block ofinsulating material 17 is secured to the bottom 1 by means of screws 18.A bracket 19 of L-shape is socured to the insulating block and has aspring contact member 20 secured to one arm thereof. Another bracket 21of L-shape is secured to the insulating base by means of a screw 22 anda projecting arm of this bracket carries a contact 23. Acooperatingcontact 24 is carried by 'zt-he spring 20 which in turn is controlled bythe armature 11. Secured to the bottom 1 of the casing is a dashpot.This dashpot consists of a base 2 5 having adownwardly extending lug 26on one side. This base has a circular upwardly extending .flange 27 anda downwardly extending tubularhub 28. A piston rod 29 extendsrthroughthe hub and has its lower end provided with an annitlargroove 330, whichis adapted to occupy the space between the two parts'of the end 14inthemannershown in Fig. .Arylin'drical cirp sh'aped member 31lhas2itsopenfend supportedon :the :uppersurfaceiof :the base 25 int-he manner shownin Fig.5. The bottom of this cup has a central opening 32 and is held inplace by meansofian end cap :33. This cap :has .a downwardly extending"cylindrical flange 34. Bolts 35 pass through perforated diametricalllylocate'dilugs-onfrihe:base 25 and have threaded connections withopenings in correspondingly located lugs :36 which are partoi theendclosure 53'. l hisend closure is providec'lon its lower side with arecess 37 having an opening 38 at :its bottom. Grooves 39 are formed inthe sides oiiitlie recess and when the -parts are assembled, the basli40 ii-s ilo'caited in this recess and serves to function asia checkvailve which apennmiits air to pass outwardly from :the cup, but whichpreventsaixr from passing-into the cup. .Aapiston 4'1 secured to theupper end of the piston rod. This piston has a). sliding ifil', with theinterior of the cup so thatit can she moved with comparatively little orno rf rictional resistance. A plurality :of washers is carried :by thepiston rod directly below the piston. These washers may be made fromleather, fiber :or :any other suitable material. TIda'e ihase '25 .isprovided with one or more openings 43 through which [the :air anaytreelypa'ss when the piston snow-Yes in "either d-i reo tion. the magnetis energized, the miniature :11 be (attracted until its pole piece itsGOIIIES'lIIlIQCUDTQLGlTWVllLth lIhBElO WGI"811d of the pole piece :8 ofthe electromagnet. iDurinig this ;-mcr vement of the :annature, thepiston '41 be moved upwardly, thereby expelling the from the pistonrchaniber above the "piston. As the armature moves upwardly the signalcontrol 'switdh conrprising members :28 and 24 be closed. The circuitthrough the relectromagrret is KihOSGCl Joy :mea-ns of theft {protectiveswitch which consists of 'ana'rm or :lever 44, which is piroted betweenthe two :sides 'of .a bracket 45, This bracket is U shaped an d has itWOpairaillel amis-46 that are c'onnected by means of a screw 47. The innersurfaces of these arms are provided with conical depressions 48, inwhich the conical ends of the pintle 49 are located. The arm 44 has itsend bent into U-shape and the pintle 49 extends through the two parallelsides of this U-shaped end portion. A spring 50 has one lendnconnectedto the U-shaped portion 51 of the arm and has its other end connectedwith the upwardly extending endportion 52 of the bell crank lever whichis pivoted at-5 3.. This lever has an aim 54 which extends substantiallyparallel with .theside 4 and is provided with a laterally extendingportion 55 that is engaged by the inner end of the adjusting screw 56.This screw is provided with a lock nut 57 that holds itin adjustedposition. By means of this screw the tension in spring 50'can be.

adjusted so as .to vary the sensitiveness ofthe theft protective switch.Secured to thebase directly above the electromagnet is a block '58 iofinsulating material. This block carries an L-shaped bracket Thelaterally extending portion "60 of this bracket is provided with acontact-'61. The arm 44 is .pro-

vided with a :latera'lly extending projection 62 which carries a contactme'n1ber63 that is adapted to move into engagement withthe contact61:011il3h6 :bracket 59.v 'securedito the free end of :arm 44 is 1aweight 64.. This weight may be made of :lead and should be quite:heavy.- A spring '65 is secured to the end wall 'Q-and engages thelower side'oi the weight so as to exert 1]. -forceitending to, move thearm towards the side 4. This spring is made of :a thin strip 0f metal.and cooperates with the spring 50 to hold the theft protective switchin open :pomtion. A screw :66 extends through a threaded opening in theside 4 :and projects towards the side oif the weight 64 so :as to'form:a stop for the latter. By adjusting the position of screw 66 the extentto which .the contacts 62 and 63 can separate, can. be determined. Arigid rod or wire '68 is secured to the arm 44 and terminates directlyabove the ormature 11, so that it will be engaged by this armature justbefore the latter reaches its upward limit of travel and it therefioreconnects the armature with the arm44 so that thethe ft protective switchwill be force- :In Fig. 7.1 have shown in a diagrammatic way thedifferent elements comprising this apparatus. The electric energy foroperating the device may be obtained [from anyzsu-itable source :but inthe drawing ra battery 69 has been shown. One pole of :this battery istarts grounded at and the other pole is connected to a switch 71 bymeans of a conductor 7 2. One terminal of this switch is connected tothe electromagnet by means of a conductor 73. The other end of the coilon the electromagnet is connected to the contact 61 by means of aconductor 74. The arm l i is connccted with the ground as indicated at75. When the contacts 61 and 63 are moved to gather, a circuit will beclosed through the electromagnet, and the latter will therefore becomeenergized and move the armature from the position shown in Fig. 1 to theposition shown in Fig. 7, in which position con- 23 and are movedtogether. A wire it extends from the wire 73 to the bracket 21 andanother conductor 77 extends from the bracket 19 to the horn or electricalarm 7 8. One terminal of this alarm is grounded at 79 and thereforewhen the signal control switch closed, the signal will become energizedand will continue to operate until the signal control switch has opened.If the disturbance to which the automobile, or the body to which thedevice is attached, still continues the theft protective switch willagain close the signal will therefore again become operative. If thedisturbance is a continuous one, the theft protective switch will beclosed before the signal control switch is open and the signal will thenbe in continuous operation, until switch 71 has been opened. If thedisturbance was merely temporary and the parts are quiescent when thesignal control switch opens, the parts will remain in inop crativecondition until again disturbed.

From the above description it will be seen that. l have produced a verysimple device which is especially well adapted for use in connectionwith burglar alarms and which can be applied to any article which is tobe protected. Although the device is especially well adapted for use inautomobiles, it can also be applied to buildings as above indicated andwhen attached to the under side of floors, it will be set into operationby any one walking over the floor of the building and if contacts 61 and63 are connected by a plurality of switches controlled by the windows,the signal will also be set in operation if the windows are opened andthis device can therefore be used as a burglar alarm for the protectionof almost any article to which or with which it can be connected.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

l. A theft alarm device comprising, in combination, a signal circuitincluding a 1101- mally open switch for control of the signal, anelectromagnet having a movable armature, a resilient connection betweenthe armature and the circuit control switch whereby the armature maycontinue to move after the circuit control switch has closed, aretarding device connected with the armature, said device offering verylittle resistance when the armature moves in response to the attractiveforce of the electromagnet but retards the movement of the armature awayfrom the electromagnet, an inertia controlled theft protective switch inseries with the electromagnet and interconnecting means between thearmature and the theft protective switch for holding the latter openwhen the armature is in attracted position.

2. A theft alarm device comprising, 1n combination, a support, anelectromagnet on the support, an armature located below theelectromagnet and mounted for pivotal movement, a dashpot cylindersecured to the sup port above the free end of the armature, a pistonlocated in the cylinder, a rod secured to the piston, said rod beingconnected with the free end of the armature whereby the piston will bereciprocated in the cylinder when the armature is moved, a closure forthe upper end of the cylinder, said closure having an opening providedwith a check valve that permits air to freely move out of the cylinderand prevents air from flowing into the cylinder, a signal control switchwhich is normally open, means for operati vely connecting the armaturewith the signal control switch, said means being yielding whereb thearmature can continue to move towarcs the magnet after the signalcontrol switch has closed, an inertia controlled theft protective switchin series with the electromagnct, and means interposed between thearmature and; the theft protective switch for holding the latter in openposition when the armature is in fully attracted position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RICHARD RUPERT.

